Nerd Camp

Pack your sleeping bag, grab your calculator, and celebrate geekdom with this humorous and empowering middle grade novel by the acclaimed author of Standing for Socks. Nerd Camp, here we come! Ten-year-old Gabe has just been accepted to the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment. That means hell be spending six weeks at sleepaway camp, writing poetry and perfecting logic proofs. S.C.G.E. has been a summer home to some legendary middle-school smarty-pants (and future Jeopardy! contestants), but it has a reputation for being, well, a Nerd Camp. S.C.G.E = Smart Camp for Geeks and Eggheads. But is Gabe really a geek? Hes never thought about it muchbut that was before he met Zack, his hip, LA-cool, soon-to-be stepbrother. Gabe worries that Zack will see him only as a nerd, until a wild summer at campcomplete with a midnight canoe ride to Dead Mans Islandhelps Gabe realize that he and Zack have the foundations for a real friendship. This clever, fun read from Elissa Brent Weissman is full of great minor characters (like a bunkmate who solves math problems in his sleep) and silly subplots (like the geekiest lice outbreak ever). Adjust your head-gear, pack your camp bag, and get ready to geek out!

I enjoyed reading about Gabe's adventures in camp - a camp that sounded really intriguing. It was a bit frustrating to see reading and learning categorized as "nerdy" or maybe that "nerdy" was implied to be bad or embarrassing. I would have liked for Gabe to stand up unapologetically for his love of learning right from the get-go.

Ten-year-old Gabe has been accepted to an unusual and rather elite camp: the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment. He knows that some kids would consider the camp - with its focus on science, logic and writing activities - to be a bit of a “nerd camp”, but Gabe is looking forward to his time there. However, he is worried what his soon-to-be stepbrother, Zack, might think of him – so he lets Zack think that it’s a normal “sleepaway” camp. Understandably, Gabe is also nervous about meeting his bunkmates and the other campers. Will he fit in? The camp turns out to be even more enjoyable than Gabe had expected. His bunkmates, though a little “quirky”, quickly become good friends. The activities – both outdoor and indoor - are awesome, and the counselors are friendly and inspiring. The campers find that they are never bored, and the six weeks go by very quickly. There’s even a midnight “invasion” by a UFO filled with aliens (who bear noticeable resemblances to the camp counsellors)! Gabe even undertakes an adventure on behalf of his camp team when he rows himself to Deadman’s Island, which is reputed to be haunted. (Only one other camper is brave enough to try the same stunt.) His teammates consider Gabe a hero, but Gabe is still worried about Zack’s opinion of him. His worries are put to rest, however, when Zack discovers the type of camp that Gabe has attended – and is very impressed. Gabe realizes that although he and Zack are different in various ways, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be friends as well as brothers Appealing and humorous, Nerd Camp carries an important message about self-acceptance, peer pressure and being “cool”. Weissman’s book will appeal to gifted kids, to those going to camp this summer … and to anyone who enjoys a good story.

Ten-year-old Gabe has been accepted to an unusual and rather elite camp: the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment. He knows that some kids would consider the camp - with its focus on science, logic and writing activities - to be a bit of a “nerd camp”, but Gabe is looking forward to his time there. However, he is worried what his soon-to-be stepbrother, Zack, might think of him – so he lets Zack think that it’s a normal “sleepaway” camp.

Understandably, Gabe is also nervous about meeting his bunkmates and the other campers. Will he fit in?
The camp turns out to be even more enjoyable than Gabe had expected. His bunkmates, though a little “quirky”, quickly become good friends. The activities – both outdoor and indoor - are awesome, and the counselors are friendly and inspiring. The campers find that they are never bored, and the six weeks go by very quickly. There’s even a midnight “invasion” by a UFO filled with aliens (who bear noticeable resemblances to the camp counsellors)!

Gabe even undertakes an adventure on behalf of his camp team when he rows himself to Deadman’s Island, which is reputed to be haunted. (Only one other camper is brave enough to try the same stunt.) His teammates consider Gabe a hero, but Gabe is still worried about Zack’s opinion of him. His worries are put to rest, however, when Zack discovers the type of camp that Gabe has attended – and is very impressed. Gabe realizes that although he and Zack are different in various ways, it doesn’t mean that they can’t be friends as well as brothers

Appealing and humorous, Nerd Camp carries an important message about self-acceptance, peer pressure and being “cool”. Weissman’s book will appeal to gifted kids, to those going to camp this summer … and to anyone who enjoys a good story.